Djibouti
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Official name: Republic of Djibouti |
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
- Sandwiched between Ethiopia and Eritrea to the north and Somalia to the south, Djibouti has a strategic location in East Africa ― as a handy port to get to the Middle East. The country’s economy depends heavily on its port and on foreign help. She is the second smallest country in Africa. This dry, desert enclave on the Red Sea coast of Africa is reputed to be the world’s hottest country. Plagued by drought and limited natural resources and industry, this country suffers from at least 50% unemployment. The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands.
[edit] Region
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Peoples
- The two main people groups of Djibouti are Somalis (mostly Issas) and Afars. The Afars are Cushitic, related to Somalis but culturally and linguistically distinct. There are between 1-2 million Afars scattered between Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea but only a handful have entered the Kingdom of God. In the capital there is a small fellowship of believers. They live in a poor, overcrowded area with minimal services and difficult living conditions.
[edit] Languages
[edit] Provinces
[edit] Life
- Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001. Djibouti, Africa’s third smallest state, is a haven of calm in a stormy region. It is also a key base for Christian witness. Pray that present freedoms may not be eroded by the politics of the Horn of Africa nor by the Islamist voice which gets louder as the economic situation declines.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Government
- The present leadership favours close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but is also developing stronger ties with the US.
- Intercessors are needed to pray for Djibouti and Eritrea after recent deadly clashes between the two neighboring East African nations. Eritrea moved troops to the Ras Doumeira area at Djibouti’s northern border on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, sparking skirmishes that resulted in the death of a dozen Djiboutian soldiers and wounding dozens more. “The situation has remained calm, but both countries are sending additional troops to the area, threatening renewed violence,” the Famine Early Warning Systems Network warned. The clash was the first since tension between the two neighbors escalated on April 16, 2008 and raised fears of an all-out military confrontation that would plunge the already tense situation in this region into further chaos, AFP reported.
[edit] Religion
- Djibouti’s population is comprised of 93.9% Muslims and only 4.7% are Christians. Although officially an Islamic state, other religions are given freedom to worship. The constitution provides for freedom of religion, but proselytizing is discouraged.
[edit] Islam
- The Somali and Afar tribes in this region were among the first in the Africa to adopt Islam. They worked as traders with close links to the Arabian Peninsula. Despite this over 1,000 year Islamic heritage, Djibouti, is much more tolerant to Christianity and open than its neighbours. Foreigners can live and work in Djibouti with relative ease. There is a free press and open access to the internet.
[edit] Buddhism
[edit] Christianity
- There are many Christians amongst the Ethiopian refugees living in Djibouti. There a few Afar and Somali Christians ― many of them are jobless and cannot read or write.
[edit] History
[edit] Churches
- Among the Somalis, there are a few small groups of Christians that meet together. They tell of wonderful dreams which they have had, about how the Messiah handed them His Word while giving them water to drink and fruit to eat, and telling them not to worry, that He will care for them. Dreams are very important to the Somali believers because they cannot read. God uses his own means to speak to them.
[edit] Church and State Relations
[edit] Mission
- There are a number of Christians amongst the Ethiopian refugees living in this country. Pray that they would have enormous faith to see others come to know God. Pray for Muslims in Djibouti to have visions and dreams of Jesus Christ. Pray that they would encounter Christ.
[edit] Broadcasting
[edit] Councils and Networks
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
